The Mercedes-Benz E-Class was the first proper luxury car I ever drove, and that was almost 25 years ago. It was a mid-1990s E220, assembled in India at the Telco facility near Pune. Priced at around Rs 22 lakh and powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder 148bhp petrol engine, the car was pretty much the Millennium Falcon. In contrast, the other cars available in India at that time were mere Cessna 172s by comparison. We had an early-1970s Fiat 1100 in the family at that time, so you can well imagine my excitement when I got a chance to drive an E220, which belonged to a friend’s father. For that one day, in my mind’s eye, at least, I was Han Solo himself.
The Star Wars fantasies diminished somewhat in later years. But I enjoyed driving other people’s expensive cars so much that I went to work for a series of car magazines. And that inevitably meant that I’d had a chance to drive each generation of E-Class that’s been launched in India over the last two decades. That first W124- spec E220 remains unmatched in the rose-tinted memories of my callow youth. The newer E-Class cars are, of course, far more accomplished in terms of technology, performance, and the sheer luxury quotient.
The newest, latest long-wheelbase E-Class, which Mercedes-Benz has recently launched in India, promises more of the same. Three variants are available: the E350d, E220d, and the one that is the subject of this review, the E200. With its swoopy, sporty styling, the new E200 is an undeniably good-looking car; it looks handsome sitting low on its beefy 17-inch alloy wheels, and has an attractive ‘face’ with expressive LED ‘eyes’, and an easy confidence conveyed by the prominent three-pointed star mounted on the front grille. The proportions are just right, and the bodywork is carefully sculpted for the right mix of restraint, elegance, and class.
For motive power, the new E200 gets a 2.0-litre inline-four that produces 197bhp and 320Nm of torque, with all the power going to the rear wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. The long-wheelbase E200 is a big car that’s a bit more than five metres long, and weighs around 1,700 kilos. But that four-cylinder engine is more than a match for the car’s heft; a hardworking unit that sings its heart out when pushed, the engine delivers the goods in a workmanlike fashion. Floor the throttle, and the car goes from zero to 100kph in 7.6 seconds, which is not bad at all for a large luxury sedan.
If you can find an empty enough expressway that’s sufficiently free of traffic, the E200 can hit a top speed of 240kph. In the real world, the E200 feels nice and relaxed and, of course, extremely comfortable. The vibe is very chilled out. ‘Relax, we’ll get there. What’s the rush?’ Indeed, the E200 is no boy racer; it’s a car that’s meant to be savoured, and enjoyed at a leisurely pace. The E200 is happy to be hustled along at triple-digit speeds all day long, if that’s what you want. But it does like to remind you, gently, that it’s a family sedan, first and foremost, a luxury car for grown-ups.
The new E-Class cabin is all about sumptuous, opulent luxury. Creamy-white leather upholstery on the seats, black ‘Artico’ leather and open-pore wood trim on the dashboard, knurled metal control switches and high-grade plastics — everything feels solid and substantial, stuff that’s built to last for ages.
(The mid-1990s W124, the car I love so much, would feel quite spartan, merely utilitarian, compared to the modern E200. In 25 years, the E-Class has moved to a whole new plane of luxury). The cabin is built for long-distance comfort, with amply proportioned, fully power-adjustable seats at the front. Even the rear seats can be reclined back, allowing occupants to stretch out and snooze. It’s all quite decadent in there. There is a removable touchpad at the back (integrated into the centre armrest), and an impressive set of dual screens up front for the more tech-inclined.
The fully digital instrument panel and the infotainment screen is one long stretch of glass that comprises two 12.3-inch full[1]colour displays, which are customisable and easy to use. There’s AI-powered voice assistance (say ‘Hey Mercedes’ and the car will respond, allowing you to use voice commands for some features), while the Mercedes Me connect app provides full smartphone integration and a range of services including breakdown assistance, maintenance management, an emergency call system, OTA software updates, tele[1]diagnostics, and more. For audiophiles, there’s a 590W Burmester surround-sound system that sounds good, and the removable touchpad at the back lets you control a range of functions from the back seat itself. That’s something I’m sure a lot of chauffeur-driven E-Class owners will find very useful.
The E200’s suspension, which comprises a four-link setup at the front and an independent five-link setup at the back, with stabiliser bars at both ends, strikes a perfect balance between ride comfort and handling prowess. The suspension is soft enough to keep the car’s occupants isolated from the effects of bad roads (with enough ground clearance to ensure that the bottom end doesn’t scrape while going over stupidly tall speed breakers). The car also stays admirably stable and sure-footed at high speeds.
The E200 isn’t built for high-speed cornering antics and is happiest on straight, fast expressways. But for what it’s worth, the steering is surprisingly communicative. If you insist on sudden lane-change manoeuvres and/or hard cornering, the car takes it all in stride, with barely any roll or wallow. It’s pretty much unflappable as long as you drive with some degree of restraint. With ABS, brake assist and electronic stability control, hard braking doesn’t produce any unnecessary histrionics. With seven airbags, a host of driver-assistance electronics and solid build quality, the E-Class must undoubtedly is one of the safest cars in its segment.
The E200 comes with an ex-showroom price tag of Rs 63.60 lakh, which is a fair bit of boodle, though you do get a lot of car for your money. It’s a beautifully designed car that’s luxurious, very well-equipped, fast, and safe. It has the heritage, it has the right badge, and it makes you want to go for long drives just for the heck of it. Even Han Solo would approve, I’m sure.
